For Football Season, Family Has To Split Up To Cover Sons’ Games

They are sitting at Ford Field in Detroit wearing shirts that are an odd mix of red and green.

Some might think the shirts are just bad Christmas attire, but they are designed to show support for their two sons playing in state championship football games.

Their dream might be a little far-fetched, but not totally divorced from reality.

The Woolfords have boys playing for two of the Monroe County Region’s best football teams.

Devon is a senior slotback at Bedford and Riley is a sophomore tight end at St. Mary Catholic Central. Bedford roars into the Division 1 state playoffs with a perfect 10-0 record. SMCC takes a 9-1 mark into the Division 5 playoffs.

“It’s been exciting,” Dawn said.

If the Woolford’s Ford Field dream comes true, it will be one of the few times all season that Mike and Dawn will get to watch a football game together.

Except for special occasions such as Parent’s Night, the couple has split up all season to make sure that each boy has a parent at the game to cheer for them.

“Me and my wife basically split up,” Mike said. “I think we’ve been to two or three games together.”

“It’s hard as a mom to pick which game to go to,” Dawn said. “We have to split up. He chooses one and I go to the other. It’s been hard.”

When Dawn goes to SMCC games, she is able to follow Bedford on Internet radio broadcasts of the games. That has led to some awkward moments when she cheers at inappropriate moments.

“I’ll go, ‘Woo hoo!’ then, ‘Oops’. I am the weird one,” she said with a laugh.

Dawn and Mike Woolford are both proud Bedford graduates.

“Born and bred to wear red,” Dawn said.

Devon was delighted to don the Bedford Red when he started his high school career.

But Riley had other ideas.

The Woolfords are members at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Temperance. Riley asked his parents if he could attend an open house at SMCC and immediately fell in love with the school.

“I just liked the school and the atmosphere,” he said.

So Riley chose SMCC Green over Bedford Red.

Did he take any grief from big brother over his decision?

“Always,” Devon said with a laugh. “But really, it was his choice. I would have been supportive either way.”

His parents were supportive as well.

“He just felt that’s where he wanted to go,” Mike said. “He was really impressed with the school. It’s been a really good fit for him. He likes more discipline which is weird for a kid that age.”

“Actually, I was proud of him,” Dawn said. “It’s neat he chose his own way, his own path.”

The paths of both Woolford boys has been successful.

Devon started the first five games of the season but now splits time with fellow senior Connor Clements.

Riley is a starter at tight end and also has seen considerable time on the defensive line as injuries have piled up for SMCC.

There have been a few discussions over the dinner table over which team is better.

“We always go back and forth,” Devon said.

“We argue a little bit, but mostly we just joke around,” Riley added.

Both of them would love to end up at Ford Field for the state finals.

“His team has a good chance to go far and so do we,” Riley said.

The dinner-table debate may never be solved, but Mike says that both boys are winners.

“I’ve known Jeff (Wood, Bedford’s head coach) a long time,” he said. “I’ve just gotten to know Jack (Giarmo, SMCC’s coach) the last couple of years. It’s fun to have them on teams with such great coaches. They are both great men who stress discipline and sportsmanship.”

Mike dreaded the day that he had to tell Wood that Riley was going to SMCC.

“He could have been upset over losing a football player, but he has been nothing but gracious,” Mike said.

Devon stands 5-7 and is a solid 175 pounds. But, in this case, big brother is the little brother.